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South Africa: Jordaan is 'Da Man' in the Football World
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Mninawa Ntloko
Johannesburg
IN THE month in which SA's winning the right to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup will be commemorated, local organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan has been honoured as one of the 100 most influential people in world football.
Respected British magazine World Soccer ranked Jordaan as the seventh most powerful man in the sport, ahead of David Beckham, Brazilians Kaka and Ronaldinho, German legend Franz Beckenbauer, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and even Confederation of African Football president Issa Hayatou.
Only Fifa president Sepp Blatter (ranked number one), the football governing body's secretary-general Jerome Valcke and Uefa president Michel Platini, among others, are ranked higher than Jordaan.
But Jordaan did not dwell on the recognition yesterday and preferred to concentrate on today's celebrations in North West that will recall May 15 2004 -- the day Blatter announced SA as the African continent's first hosts of football's biggest carnival.
" We will celebrate the awarding of the World Cup to SA and more specifically, to recognise all the host cities for the work they have done," Jordaan said yesterday.
With regard to the 2010 World Cup, Jordaan said SA was in many respects ahead of Germany at the same stage of preparation for the 2006 global showpiece.
"And in some cases it is impossible to compare the two countries because of our (SA's) unique circumstances. The fact is we are a developing country while they are already developed. For an example, we are building a world-class transport system for the W orld C up while Germany already had everything in place."
Jordaan said the progress over the past few months has begun to convince even those critics around the world who initially did not believe that SA could meet all the deadlines.
"Where once there were doubts, now there is unwavering confidence and reassurance that the deadlines will be met.
"I remember being interviewed by a journalist in Europe. Looking at me from the corner of his eye and tapping his pencil on his notebook, he asked: 'When you consider how big and complex this tournament has become, do you think you may have bitten off more than you can chew?'
"Today that same journalist is no longer asking the same question and no longer raising the same doubts. This is because he was one of the accredited media fortunate enough to attend the preliminary draw for the W orld C up in Durban last November."
Construction at Ellis Park, Loftus and the Royal Bafokeng stadium is expected to be completed by August this year, Peter Mokaba Stadium by February next year, Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit and Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth by March next year, the Green Point stadium by June next year, Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban by July next year and Soccer City and Free State Stadium by August next year.
Jordaan said he agreed with Fifa's view that the national soccer team had to at least reach the quarterfinals of the 2010 World Cup. "It is something that we have to achieve."
But coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's shock departure last month shook Jordaan, and even the organising committee CEO does not know what to expect from new man Joel Santana, who is expected to arrive this week.
"It is not ideal to change coaches at such a late stage. I do not know him (Santana) and we will have to wait and see what happens."
Jordaan said that contrary to media speculation, he did not have his sights set on becoming the president of the South African Football Association after the 2010 tournament.
"I do not want to think beyond 2010."
Jomo Cosmos were relegated to the first division after a 2-0 defeat to Black Leopards yesterday. Goals from Myron Shongwe and Thabiso Hlalele condemned Jomo Sono's team.
In the other relegation match yesterday, Thanda Royal Zulu beat Wits 3-2 to put themselves in a position to avoid the playoffs on the final day of the season if they beat Cosmos and Leopards lose to Kaizer Chiefs on Sunday.
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In other games, Orlando Pirates beat Free State Stars 3-1 while Amazulu went down to a 2-0 defeat to Moroka Swallows.
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